Bangladesh National Cricket Team: Players, Schedule, Standings

Bangladesh’s cricket team has spent years punching above its weight on the world stage, and a recent home series proved once again that the Tigers don’t back down from tougher opponents. The Bangladesh side hosted New Zealand for a three-match ODI series in April 2026, with the hosts claiming a 2-1 victory despite sitting ninth in the ICC ODI rankings against New Zealand’s second-place ranking with a 114 rating. Now the focus shifts to three T20Is that will run through early May.

Tests Played: 156 · Test Wins: 25 · ODI Wins: 166 of 460 · T20I Wins: 86 of 212 · Test Captain: Najmul Hossain Shanto

The table below consolidates key administrative and leadership facts about Bangladesh cricket, sourced from official records and governing body announcements.

Bangladesh National cricket team players

Understanding who pulls on the Bangladesh jersey requires knowing the leadership setup across formats and the key contributors in the most recent series against New Zealand.

Current squad

Bangladesh fielded Mehidy Hasan Miraz as captain for the ODI series against New Zealand, with the squad featuring a blend of experienced campaigners and younger talent. The fifteen-player roster included Soumya Sarkar, Saif Hassan, Tanzid Hasan, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, Litton Das, Afif Hossain, Mahidul Islam, Rishad Hossain, Tanvir Islam, Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, and Nahid Rana. The selection emphasized players with recent international experience, particularly those who had featured in the preceding series against Pakistan (CricketWorld squad analysis).

Key players

Five players stood out as impact contributors for Bangladesh during the first two ODIs: Tanzid Hasan provided aggressive starts at the top of the order, Mustafizur Rahman brought his signature cutter deliveries and death-over expertise, Rishad Hossain offered leg-spin variety and batting firepower in the middle order, Towhid Hridoy stabilized innings during pressure situations, and Shoriful Islam complemented the pace attack with swing-friendly bowling in helpful conditions. Mustafizur Rahman, in particular, carries the burden of being Bangladesh’s most recognizable fast bowler on the global stage, with over 150 wickets in ODIs and a reputation that precedes him in franchise leagues worldwide (CricketWorld player profiles).

Captains by format

Bangladesh operates with separate captains across the three international formats, reflecting the different demands and planning cycles for Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. Najmul Hossain Shanto leads the Test side, having taken over the longest format responsibilities with a calm batting approach and growing leadership presence. Mehidy Hasan Miraz commands the ODI team, bringing energy and tactical awareness honed through years as an all-rounder. Litton Das handles T20I duties, offering aggressive wicketkeeping and quick scoring at the top of the innings. This differentiated approach allows the Bangladesh Cricket Board to develop leadership depth across formats rather than concentrating captaincy in a single figure.

The pattern shows Bangladesh developing a structured leadership pipeline across formats rather than relying on a single captain for all game types.

Bangladesh National Cricket team schedule

The Dutch-Bangla Bank Bangladesh New Zealand Series 2026 split across two cities, with Dhaka’s Shere Bangla National Stadium hosting the first two ODIs and the third T20I, while Chattogram’s Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium handled the decisive third ODI and first two T20Is.

Upcoming fixtures

• 1st T20I: April 27, 2026 at Bir Sreshtho Stadium, Chattogram — 2:00 PM local time (NDTV Profit series schedule)
• 2nd T20I: April 29, 2026 at Bir Sreshtho Stadium, Chattogram (CricketWorld fixture list)
• 3rd T20I: May 2, 2026 at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka — tour concludes (NDTV Profit tour details)

Recent series

The completed ODI leg delivered a compelling three-match contest that swung both ways before Bangladesh claimed the series victory. The first ODI on April 17 saw New Zealand post 247/8 in their 50 overs before Bangladesh fell short at 221/10 in 48.3 overs, with the Kiwis winning by 26 runs at Shere Bangla National Stadium (CricTracker match records). Bangladesh responded with a six-wicket win in the second ODI on April 20, chasing 199/4 in just 35.3 overs after New Zealand managed only 198/10 in 48.4 overs at the same venue. The series decider on April 23 saw Bangladesh post 265/8 in their 50 overs before dismissing New Zealand for 210 in 44.5 overs, securing a 55-run victory and the 2-1 series win at Chattogram’s Bir Sreshtho Stadium (CricTracker match records).

Bangladesh National Cricket team next Match

Bangladesh’s next assignment brings them back to T20I mode as New Zealand arrives in Chattogram for the opening Twenty20 international on April 27, 2026, with the series carrying ICC T20I ranking points alongside the bilateral significance.

Next opponent

New Zealand enters the T20I leg ranked fourth in ICC T20I standings with a 249 rating, compared to Bangladesh’s ninth-place position at 223. Tom Latham continues as captain across both formats, with the T20I squad featuring Katene Clarke, Ben Lister, Josh Clarkson, Dane Cleaver, Matt Fisher, Dean Foxcroft, Bevon Jacobs, Nick Kelly, Jayden Lennox, Tim Robinson, Ben Sears, Nathan Smith, Ish Sodhi, and Blair Tickner alongside Latham. The New Zealand lineup includes several players who featured in the ODI series, providing continuity, while Ish Sodhi brings leg-spin experience that could prove valuable on Chattogram pitches (Cricketworld.com).

Match details

The 1st T20I starts at 1:30 PM IST and 2:00 PM local time at the Bir Sreshtho Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Stadium, with day-night timing adding the twilight challenge that often favors swing bowlers in Bangladesh. All three T20Is follow a similar pattern: first two matches in Chattogram, final match in Dhaka on May 2, wrapping up a tour that began on April 17 with the ODI series opener (NDTV Profit series schedule).

Bangladesh National cricket Team Standings

Bangladesh’s position in ICC rankings tells a story of steady progress in ODIs and T20Is while the Test rankings reveal room for improvement against stronger opponents.

Test rankings

Bangladesh has played 156 Tests since gaining full ICC membership in 2000, recording 25 victories — a win rate that reflects the gradual improvement in their longest-format performances. The Tigers have registered memorable wins against England, Australia, and South Africa in recent years, though consistency remains the challenge. Najmul Hossain Shanto leads this format as captain, with the team showing signs of tactical maturation under head coach Phil Simmons (ESPNcricinfo series coverage).

ODI and T20I positions

The ICC Men’s ODI Rankings place New Zealand second with a 114 rating against Bangladesh’s ninth position with a 79 rating — a gap of 35 rating points that the series result suggested was narrower than the numbers indicated. In T20Is, New Zealand sits fourth with 249 rating points, while Bangladesh occupies ninth with 223, meaning the T20I rankings gap (26 points) is proportionally smaller than in ODIs and potentially more competitive on the day (CricketWorld ICC rankings).

The pattern is clear: Bangladesh performs closer to stronger opponents in bilateral series than the rankings gap suggests, with home conditions and motivated performances often bridging the technical difference. The implication for the T20I series is that New Zealand’s higher ranking provides a reference point, not a guarantee of victory.

Bangladesh National Cricket team scorecard

The completed ODI matches delivered detailed scorecards that reveal how each team built and lost momentum across the three-match series.

Recent match scorecards

The first ODI scorecard shows New Zealand’s innings: 247 runs for 8 wickets in 50 overs, built around methodical accumulation rather than explosive hitting. Bangladesh’s reply of 221 all out in 48.3 overs featured early wickets that prevented momentum, with the target ultimately proving beyond reach despite a fighting lower-order contribution. The umpires Nitin Menon and Tanvir Ahmed oversaw a match where New Zealand elected to bat after winning the toss, a decision that proved strategically sound on the Shere Bangla surface (ICC match official records).

The second ODI turned dramatically: New Zealand managed only 198/10 in 48.4 overs, and Bangladesh chased the target in 35.3 overs for the loss of just 4 wickets. This comfortable chase demonstrated Bangladesh’s ability to accelerate when wickets are not lost cheaply, with the top and middle order contributing meaningfully. For more information on this matchup, check out Florida State vs NC State.

The decisive third ODI produced Bangladesh’s best batting performance of the series: 265/8 in 50 overs, anchored by substantial contributions throughout the lineup. New Zealand’s 210 all out in 44.5 overs reflected the pressure Bangladesh’s total created, with the spinners and pace bowlers alternating operating effectively on the Chattogram pitch. The 55-run margin translated directly into series victory (NDTV Sports match report).

Bangladesh vs New Zealand scorecard

The aggregate numbers across all three ODIs reveal Bangladesh’s competitive edge in key phases: superior death-over batting in the third ODI, effective wicket-taking in middle overs, and the ability to bowl teams out in Chattogram conditions where the ball typically turns and variable bounce challenges foreign batters. New Zealand’s win in the first ODI reflected their experience handling pressure situations, but Bangladesh’s tactical adjustments between matches demonstrated learning capacity that proved decisive in the series outcome.

The implication is that every T20I result carries ranking weight that could reshape Bangladesh’s tournament qualification path heading into major ICC events.

Timeline of the Bangladesh-New Zealand Series 2026

Key dates and results from the completed and upcoming matches in this bilateral series.

• April 17, 2026: 1st ODI — New Zealand won by 26 runs at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
• April 20, 2026: 2nd ODI — Bangladesh won by 6 wickets at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka
• April 23, 2026: 3rd ODI — Bangladesh won by 55 runs at Bir Sreshtho Stadium, Chattogram
• April 27, 2026: 1st T20I at Bir Sreshtho Stadium, Chattogram
• April 29, 2026: 2nd T20I at Bir Sreshtho Stadium, Chattogram
• May 2, 2026: 3rd T20I at Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka — tour concludes

Confirmed and Unclear Facts

The certainty around key elements of this series varies based on source verification and official confirmations.

Expert perspectives

New Zealand are currently placed at the 2nd position on ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings with a rating of 114.

— CricketWorld cricket publication

On home turf, Bangladesh look solid and look forward to challenging the Blackcaps.

— NDTV Profit Indian sports coverage

Summary

Bangladesh’s 2-1 ODI series victory against New Zealand marks a significant result for a team that continues developing its competitive edge against higher-ranked opponents. The Tigers showed character in bouncing back from an opening loss to claim the series with commanding performances in the second and third matches, with the Chattogram venue proving particularly hospitable to their bowling attack. For New Zealand, the series revealed areas requiring attention before major ICC tournaments, particularly middle-over wicket-taking with the ball and death-over batting under pressure. The T20I series beginning April 27 presents an immediate opportunity for both teams to build momentum, with Bangladesh carrying confidence from the ODI result and New Zealand looking to leverage their superior T20I ranking. For fans tracking Bangladesh cricket, the three-match T20I leg through early May offers another chance to assess whether this team’s upward trajectory in limited-overs cricket continues against quality opposition.

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Recent form shines in the New Zealand match scorecard, where Najmul Hossain Shanto’s contributions helped secure vital points in standings.

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